UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed concern over
"alarming developments" in Burundi, particularly
the forced displacement of people in Bujumbura Rural
province. In a statement on Wednesday, he called on
both the government and the rebels to "end attacks
on the civilian population and abide by international
humanitarian law and principles". He urged them
to take all measures to ensure that those affected
could return to their homes as soon as possible.

BURUNDI: Vice-President says sites "lesser of two
evils"

Meanwhile, First Vice-President Frederic Bamvuginyunvira
of the opposition FRODEBU party visited the Ruyaga
and Buhonga regroupment sites on Thursday, Radio Umwizero
reported. Donating 12 mt of assistance to the sites,
he acknowledged the situation was difficult "but
can be defended by the government's mission of protecting
people against armed gangs". "We are obliged
to express ourselves like Socrates," he said.
"One chooses the lesser of two evils. The situation
here is not as bad as has been described by people...special
efforts have been made in relation to vital needs such
as water, food and sheeting."

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: JMC to meet in Kampala

The Joint Military Commission (JMC), charged with overseeing
the DRC ceasefire, is to hold its first full meeting
in Kampala on Monday, UN sources told IRIN. Preliminary
meetings have been held in Lusaka and since the rebels
signed the Lusaka accord, the full session can now
go ahead.

DRC: 11 refugee children reunited with families

Eleven Congolese refugee children, among the "forgotten"
DRC refugees in Sudan, have been reunited with their
families in Kisangani, the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday. The children
had been living in the camps in Juba and were found
by the ICRC's tracing programme. Eight brothers and
sisters, whose parents died a year ago, were reunited
with their uncle, and three other children with their
father.

DRC: Joint police force for Kisangani

DRC rebels along with troops from Rwanda and Uganda
have formed a joint police force in Kisangani, news
organisations reported. AFP quoted the military commander
of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD)-Goma,
Jean-Pierre Ondekane, who said the unit - composed
of 47 men from each side - was put in place a week
ago to ensure security in Kisangani. The force is reportedly
led by a Ugandan officer, Nabote Mugume, whose deputies
are Pierre Naganire from Rwanda and Commander Byona
of the RCD.

DRC: 200 Rwandan rebels killed

Over 200 ex-FAR and Interahamwe militiamen have been
killed in a major swoop by joint RCD and Rwandan forces
in eastern DRC, the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) reported.
It cited RCD sources who said the operation was launched
a week ago in the Goma area. Some 4,000 Rwandan rebels
had reportedly been massing at bases between the Nyamuragira
and Nyiragongo volcanoes preparing for attacks on Goma,
Gisenyi and Ruhengeri. A further 100 Rwandan rebels
were captured, RNA said.

In a separate incident on Wednesday, RCD rebel forces
killed seven Rwandan militiamen and captured two others
plus a number of Mayi-Mayi warriors on the Ruzizi plain,
south of Bukavu, RNA reported.

RWANDA: Minister speaks on resignation

Social Affairs Minister Charles Ntakirutinka, forced
to resign after a parliamentary vote of no-confidence
on Wednesday, said he quit out of respect for the law.
He told the BBC Kinyarwanda service on Thursday he
believed he had given convincing answers to parliament
regarding the corruption charges against him. "However
parliament has the right to decide whether the answer
was convincing or not," he said. Anastase Gasana,
currently Minister in the President's Office, was also
asked to resign by parliament. Rwandan radio said
the two could also appear in court on corruption charges.

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